Lab Rats-I need your ideas to make headgear smaller...

jsmythe · Post by **jsmythe** » Sat Dec 29, 2007 7:16 am

OK all you Lab Rats out there, I need your expertise.

For some reason the headgear on all three of the masks I use is too big in the back.Especially the Activa, my primary mask. I do not consider my head small at all, don't know where the problem lies.
When I put the crown strap where it is supposed to be, the section in between that strap and the bottom one buckles-too much strap. I am not sure where to cut or stitch it down so that it does not become off balanced or crooked. Not sure if I am wording this right or not. I hope so. I need some ideas to think about and try.

Slinky · Post by **Slinky** » Sat Dec 29, 2007 7:50 am

I've had to do this w/my Simplicity. Too darn long center strap. Like it was made for a pumpkin, a BIG pumpkin!

Buy yourself some one sided velcro strips. Put a fold or pleat in the headstrap that is to large/long. Place velcro over the fold to hold it there. When you finally find the right "fit", THEN go ahead and cut out the fold. I had to cut 2" out of the Simplicity center strap. Then just velcro the two cut ends together. Works like a charm and has been holding well for months now.

Red Green has his Wd40, MacGiver has his duct tape, me? I've got my velcro strips!!!

jsmythe · Post by **jsmythe** » Sat Dec 29, 2007 7:57 am

Slinky wrote:I've had to do this w/my Simplicity. Too darn long center strap. Like it was made for a pumpkin, a BIG pumpkin!

Buy yourself some one sided velcro strips. Put a fold or pleat in the headstrap that is to large/long. Place velcro over the fold to hold it there. When you finally find the right "fit", THEN go ahead and cut out the fold. I had to cut 2" out of the Simplicity center strap. Then just velcro the two cut ends together. Works like a charm and has been holding well for months now.

Red Green has his Wd40, MacGiver has his duct tape, me? I've got my velcro strips!!!

Great idea Slinky! Thanks...since the back is a triangle shape, will try this with all three sides, a little at a time...that should take up a lot of slack. I tried something else as temporary, but it was crooked... lol..I usually duct tape everything, but couldnt get the darn stuff to stick to the straps all night!

rb09 · Post by **rb09** » Sat Dec 29, 2007 8:32 am

I remove all the buckles from my headgear (Swift Nasal Pillows) and sew very thin Velcro stips (available at home depot) in place of the buckles. I always found the buckles to be uncomfortable between my head and my bed pillows.

Also I used 6 foot lengths of the same Velcro sewn along the edges of 6'x6" insulated material covered by a 6'x6" fleece material to make a hose cover (insulated material and fleece available at JoAnn Fabrics). The Velcro allows easy removal of the hose cover when hose cleaning is necessary. Rain out problem comletely dissappeared after using the insulated hose cover.

Slinky · Post by **Slinky** » Sat Dec 29, 2007 8:51 am

Giggle. Even w/the mask headgear that had the snaps, I always undid the strap w/the velcro rather than the snaps. When returning back to bed half asleep/awake after a "potty" trip my aim w/those *&#4 snaps was never very good whereas the velcro I could easily place to fit again. I guess it is all in what you get used to.

And, goshes, I never bothered to sew the velcro on. I've always just relied on the velcro to hold on its own and so far it always has.

jules · Post by **jules** » Sat Dec 29, 2007 11:14 am

I just made my own headgear with elastic bands. I found the somnotech headgear was too big in back too so these threads include my somnoplus and soyala headgear I use (and Teddy so graciously models).

viewtopic.php?t=11125

viewtopic.php?t=26259

Bamalady · Post by **Bamalady** » Sat Dec 29, 2007 11:35 am

Joyce....I had the same problem with the Activa headgear. My solution was to fold the bottom strap over twice, then reattach. That made it fit much better.

jsmythe · Post by **jsmythe** » Sat Dec 29, 2007 2:39 pm

Thanks everyone, these are great ideas! Jules, I dont know which I like the best, your "model" or the idea... great idea, I would put a center strap down the back to keep my crown strap from slipping. I havent tried folding the bottom strap over Bamalady, good idea. I tried to twist it inside out a couple of times, that sorta helped but was uncomfortable.
I will give these a try..(Still liked Teddy...

jsmythe · Post by **jsmythe** » Sat Dec 29, 2007 2:41 pm

Good idea rb09, I havent tried fleece, but I did cut the legs of a pair of pants and duct taped them to the hose.. , worked great!. lol..

jules · Post by **jules** » Sat Dec 29, 2007 2:45 pm

Well Teddy isn't mine -- I had to borrow him when my spouse was gone in order to entice Teddy to pose for me.

darthlucy · Post by **darthlucy** » Sat Dec 29, 2007 5:26 pm

Bamalady wrote:Joyce....I had the same problem with the Activa headgear. My solution was to fold the bottom strap over twice, then reattach. That made it fit much better.

I was going to post this suggestion if no one else did. Worked great for me.

jsmythe · Post by **jsmythe** » Sat Dec 29, 2007 5:55 pm

darthlucy wrote:
Bamalady wrote:Joyce....I had the same problem with the Activa headgear. My solution was to fold the bottom strap over twice, then reattach. That made it fit much better.
I was going to post this suggestion if no one else did. Worked great for me.

darthlucy · Post by **darthlucy** » Sat Dec 29, 2007 9:38 pm

jsmythe wrote:
darthlucy wrote:
Bamalady wrote:Joyce....I had the same problem with the Activa headgear. My solution was to fold the bottom strap over twice, then reattach. That made it fit much better.
I was going to post this suggestion if no one else did. Worked great for me.

Mask

Mask

Lab Rats-I need your ideas to make headgear smaller...

Lab Rats-I need your ideas to make headgear smaller...

Velcro for headgear and Hose cover